'Had we our senses' by Emily Dickinson
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Had we our senses
But perhaps 'tis well they're not at Home
So intimate with Madness
He's liable with them
Had we the eyes without our Head—
How well that we are Blind—
We could not look upon the Earth—
So utterly unmoved—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Had we our senses - Emily Dickinson
Oh, the beauty of Emily Dickinson's poems! Every time I read one of her works, I feel like I am transported to a magical world of words where everything is possible. And "Had we our senses" is no exception. In this poem, Dickinson explores the power of imagination and the limitations of our physical senses.
The first thing that strikes me about this poem is its title. "Had we our senses." What does it mean? Is Dickinson suggesting that we don't have our senses? Or that we don't use them properly? The poem itself provides some clues.
Had we our senses But perhaps ’tis well they’re not at home, So intimate with madness He’s liable with them to roam, And we should lose the fingers Were wed with ours, beneath the tune; He could not leave the smile off Nor the lifted tongue.
The first line is ambiguous. "Had we our senses" could mean "if we had our senses" or "assuming we have our senses." Either way, the poem suggests that our senses are not always reliable or trustworthy. They can lead us to madness, to lose control of our fingers and tongues. The "he" in the second line is mysterious. Who is he? Is he the personification of madness or imagination? Or is he someone else entirely? The poem does not provide a clear answer, but the ambiguity is part of its charm.
The third line, "So intimate with madness," is particularly interesting. Dickinson seems to suggest that madness is not something external, but something intimately connected to our senses. Madness is not an aberration, but a natural consequence of the way we perceive the world. This idea is reminiscent of the Romantic poets, who believed that the imagination was a powerful force that could transcend reason and logic.
The fourth line, "He's liable with them to roam," reinforces the idea that our senses can lead us astray. The word "liable" suggests that we are responsible for our own madness, that we choose to follow our senses even when they lead us to dangerous places.
The fifth line, "And we should lose the fingers," is a metaphorical way of saying that we would lose control of our actions if we followed our senses too blindly. The fingers represent our ability to manipulate the world, to create art and music and literature. If we lose control of them, we lose a vital part of ourselves.
The sixth line, "Were wed with ours, beneath the tune," is an interesting metaphor. The word "wed" suggests a deep and intimate connection, but also a certain degree of bondage. Our fingers are "wed" to our senses, but this bond is not always a happy one. The "tune" could be interpreted in different ways, but I like to think of it as the harmony of the universe, the music that underlies all things. If we lose our connection to this tune, we lose our sense of purpose and meaning in life.
The seventh line, "He could not leave the smile off," is a powerful image. It suggests that madness is not just a negative force, but also a source of joy and laughter. The "he" in this line could be the same as the "he" in the second line, or it could be someone else entirely. The ambiguity is part of the poem's charm.
The last line, "Nor the lifted tongue," is another metaphorical image. The lifted tongue could represent our ability to speak, to communicate with others. If we lose control of it, we lose our ability to connect with the world and with other people.
So, what can we make of this poem? Dickinson seems to suggest that our senses are not always reliable, that they can lead us to madness and loss of control. But at the same time, she celebrates the power of imagination and the joy that comes from following our senses. The poem is a complex meditation on the human condition, on the tension between reason and emotion, between control and abandon.
In conclusion, "Had we our senses" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that rewards careful reading and interpretation. Dickinson's language is rich and evocative, and her images are powerful and memorable. The poem invites us to explore the mysteries of the human mind and to celebrate the beauty of the imagination.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Had we our senses, by Emily Dickinson, is a classic poem that explores the idea of perception and how it shapes our understanding of the world around us. In this 12-line poem, Dickinson presents a thought-provoking argument that challenges the reader to consider the limitations of their own senses and the impact it has on their perception of reality.
The poem begins with the line "Had we our senses," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "had" implies that the speaker believes that there is something missing from their current state of being. This sentiment is further emphasized in the second line, which reads, "The sight of that immortal sea." Here, Dickinson is referring to the vastness of the ocean, which is often used as a metaphor for the infinite and eternal. The use of the word "immortal" suggests that the speaker is longing for a deeper understanding of the world beyond what their senses can provide.
The third line of the poem reads, "To which we first were born," which suggests that the speaker believes that there is a fundamental connection between humans and the natural world. This idea is further explored in the fourth line, which reads, "We might not guess the tiger's paw." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that our senses are limited in their ability to perceive the world around us. While we may be able to see the tiger, we cannot fully understand its nature or the power of its paw without a deeper understanding of the world beyond our senses.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, "The roof of the invisible / Would disappear again." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that there is a world beyond what we can see, a world that is invisible to our senses. This idea is further explored in the seventh and eighth lines, which read, "The smoke ascends / And shows the grass again." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that there is a hidden world that is revealed to us only through the actions of the natural world. The smoke from a fire, for example, can reveal the grass that was previously hidden from view.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem read, "All force and all majesty / We'd apprehend in vain." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that there is a power and majesty in the natural world that is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. This sentiment is further emphasized in the eleventh line, which reads, "From all that we have seen of earth." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that our understanding of the world is limited by our experiences and our senses. We can only understand what we have seen and experienced, and there is a vast world beyond our current understanding.
The final line of the poem reads, "We make a little stay." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that our time on earth is brief and that we must make the most of it. The use of the word "stay" implies that our time on earth is temporary and that we must make the most of our limited time here.
Overall, Had we our senses is a thought-provoking poem that challenges the reader to consider the limitations of their own senses and the impact it has on their perception of reality. Dickinson suggests that there is a vast world beyond what we can see and experience, and that our understanding of the world is limited by our experiences and our senses. The poem encourages the reader to consider the power and majesty of the natural world and to make the most of their limited time on earth.
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